Resort Overview: Club St. Lucia, now called Odyssey St. Lucia, was the first property to receive a $5 million renovation. We visited the Club St. Lucia property last year and were very impressed with the service, the value offered, and the way the property catered to families. Now things are even better. The property has a spa, four children's clubs catering to babies through teens, free evening babysitting, the largest pool in St. Lucia with water cascades and waterslides, themed roaming food carts, and upgraded rooms. Rates for these properties are budget oriented, and offer an excellent value when compared with other family-friendly all-inclusive properties. During the high season, rates for rooms start at $284; family suites start at $312. During the low season, rooms start at $236; family suites start at $262. Prices include all meals and drinks (including alcohol), entertainment and activities. Children under 12 stay free (one per paying adult), with a maximum of two children in a family room.

Accommodations: The 372-room resort is located on 50 miles of tropically landscaped property, and includes two beaches for guests' enjoyment. As part of the resort's new concept, the property has been redesigned with five smaller villages. A wide variety of room types are offered. Category A rooms provides a ceiling fan and bathroom with shower only; Category B rooms provide air-conditioning, radio and tub with shower. These rooms are equipped with regular amenities including hair dryers, irons, ironing boards and coffee makers and each villa is ground level with a walk-out patio or terrace. Another option is family suites. These rooms feature an air conditioned bedroom with a king size bed, a separate living room with a ceiling fan and a couch bed that can sleep two additional adults or children, and an outdoor patio.

Restaurants: The food is abundant at the Odyssey. Kid's will get a kick out their own restaurant named: Da Boat featuring all their favorites like pizza and chicken nuggets plus yummy deserts. High chairs are also available. St. Lucia has five different restaurants from buffet to ala carte, as well as resort-wide food theme courts featuring sheltered and open-air kiosks serving exciting, made-to-order cuisine and a 24-hour snack bar. The International Grill - buffet restaurant open for breakfast (7 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.), lunch (12 noon - 2:15 p.m.) and dinner (6:30 p.m. - 10:15 p.m.) serving popular international fare. The Moveable Feast - features colorful food carts constantly offering changing specialties from morning to night, and serving a variety of foods including everything from authentic English fish and chips to Mexican tortillas. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. The Jade Vine Restaurant - a specialty dinner restaurant with an oriental flair where the food is individually cooked at every table by your chef or by the diners. An interactive cooking, eating and drinking experience. Hours are from 6:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. For more casual dining, The Cap Trattoria features pizza, pasta and salad restaurant featuring fine Italian country cooking with a casual outdoor feel. Hours are Noon - 10:30 p.m. The Great House Restaurant is for special occasion dining with finest European cuisine and a special discount for Odyssey St. Lucia guests. (Not included in Odyssey St. Lucia rates.) For a quick snack, check out the Coffee Station - open 6:30 a.m. to midnight serving a continental breakfast from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and afterternoon tea from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Children's Programs: Odyssey St. Lucia offers one of the most extensive children's programs available. The ratio of child to child care provider is 3:1. The Baby Parrot's Nest cares for infants through three-year olds in an air-conditioned nursery with trained nannies. The Programs are open from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Sunday. Three other children's programs are offered: Jacquot's for ages 4-9; Cicero's for those 9-12; and the Jump Club for teens featuring pool tables, cyberspace Internet area, games inventory and a VCR and Television. Free evening babysitting services are also provided by specially trained nannies. Older children will enjoy the kid's park and playground; Govenor's play fort; Kid's Rollerblade Track; (for 5-12 years old), and kid's spa with massages. The Kid's Club offers cartoons, videos, Nintendo, face painting, T-shirt designing, games, cooking classes, field trips, bicycles, complimentary t-shirts and badges.

Swimming: Swim and play in the largest swimming pool in St. Lucia, with water cascades and waterslides. The pools are life guarded . Guests also have access to two beaches including Odyssey's own intimate beach.

Other Activities and Amenities: The resort offers entertainment programs and activities throughout the day and evening, as well as a water sports center, spa, fitness club, and extensive tennis facilities. St. Lucia is a wonderful island for families, with many activities to enjoy. Take a boat ride on the Unicorn to the quaint town of Soufriere, where you can stare in awe at the Pitons, visit the Sulfur Springs, the drive-in volcano, Diamond Head waterfalls, and the Botanical Gardens. Hike through the rain forest, take a picnic lunch trip to Pigeon Island to enjoy the beaches, or go shopping in Castries. The people of St. Lucia are warm and friendly, and love children.